Networking for Career Growth

To have a breakthrough in career, working hard and gaining relevant knowledge are not sufficient. You will also need someone to believe in you and give you a chance. However, a strong relationship is not necessary. In fact, a 1973 paper by Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter found that a person’s weak ties—their casual connections and loose acquaintances—were more helpful than their strong ones in securing employment. "Your weak ties connect you to networks that are outside of your own circle," Granovetter said. "They give you information and ideas that you otherwise would not have received." Here are three ways my students build relationships and expand their network: 1. Be Thoughtful and Anticipate What Others Need My teaching assistant, Jinho Kim, bought me and my guests a bottle of water each before we started the workshop at National University of Singapore. Small gestures like this can create long-lasting positive impressions. Another student, Jun Kyn Ang 洪进健, took photos of us speaking and sent them to me after the session. It helps me remember him better. 2. Be a Connector Introduce people with complementary needs, e.g., a foreigner to a local or a student to a working professional. A few years ago, Calvin Wee 黄建咏, a student at the time, introduced me to NUS Business School Career Service's Eddie Phua, who has since engaged me to teach. Even if you are junior, don’t underestimate the value you can bring. 3. Develop a Useful Skill When I taught at Schwarzman Scholars, a student offered to take a portrait photo of me after class. It is the one you see on my LinkedIn profile. I have since used it for all my social media profiles and book cover. Jake Gaba and I stay in touch to this day. How do you build relationships? Have you gotten a job because of a weak tie? Except for my first two jobs, all my jobs have been obtained through referrals. (Photo: to help students build relationship and expand their network, I brought four guests, Simon T., Rena Kwok, Louis Tan and Alvin Mah) #66smallactions #weakties #networking

In my early career, I thought networking was all about building as many connections as possible. But I quickly learned that effective networking isn't about the quantity of your connections—it's about the quality. Throughout my career, the connections that have truly made a difference weren’t the ones where I just asked for help—they were the ones where I made it easy for others to want to help me. If you want to make others genuinely want to help you, it’s crucial to move beyond simply asking for favors. Instead, focus on creating value and building relationships where both parties benefit. So, how can you do the same? Here are four tactical tips to help you network effectively: ✅ Do Your Homework Before reaching out, research the person or company you’re interested in. Understand their work, challenges, and how you can add value. For instance, instead of asking a connection for job leads, do your own research first. Identify specific roles and companies you’re targeting, and then ask if they can help with an introduction. This approach shows initiative and respect for their time. ✅ Be Specific in Your Ask Whether you’re asking for an introduction, advice, or a referral, be clear and concise about what you need. For example, instead of asking, “Do you know anyone hiring?” say, “I noticed [Company Name] is looking for a [Role]. Would you be open to introducing me to [Person]? I’m happy to send you my resume and a brief write-up you can pass along, too.” This shows that you’ve taken the initiative and makes it easier for your contact to say yes. ✅ Offer Mutual Value When requesting a meeting or advice, frame it as a two-way conversation. Instead of saying, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like, “I’d love to exchange ideas on [specific topic] and share some strategies that have worked for me.” This not only makes your request more compelling but also positions you as someone who brings value to the table. ✅ Follow Up with Gratitude After someone has helped you, don’t just say thank you and disappear. Keep them in the loop on how their help made an impact. Whether you got the job, secured the meeting, or just had a great conversation, let them know. This closes the loop and makes them more inclined to help you in the future. Your network is one of your greatest assets—nurture it well, and it will be there for you when you need it most. What’s one networking tip that’s helped you build stronger connections? *** 📧 Want more tips like these? Join Career Bites - free weekly bite-sized tips to supercharge your career in 3 minutes or less: lorraineklee.com/subscribe 📖 You can also get behind-the-scenes stories, updates, and special gifts for my upcoming book Unforgettable Presence: lorraineklee.com/book

"Ethan, you write a lot about how to get promoted to executive, but how do you get selected or hired into those roles?" The answer to getting interviewed is both really easy and really hard. The really easy answer is networking. Nearly 80% of all leadership jobs are not posted. Separately, 80 % of people who get a leadership job have some networking connection to the role. So… the simple answer is know someone. Why is networking so essential? Hiring managers do not want to take risk on critical leadership positions, which means that they want the comfort of knowing someone. The "straight truth" is that most executives (myself included!) would rather take a known good leader than an unknown possibly great leader. Because "known good" reduces the odds of "actually awful," and avoiding awful is worth giving up some odds of "great." The harder part is building that network. Networking is like saving for retirement - it takes time and discipline, but it is not actually complicated to understand. The hard part is sticking to it. Social media actually makes this far easier. The simplest recipe is: 1) Find a topic you love to talk about 2) Start talking about it online, consistently 3) Make friends with the people who interact with you on your posts 4) Repeat, endlessly. In the next day or two I will cross 130,000 followers here on LinkedIn. Throw in a few 10s of thousands on other platforms, and the unduplicated number is probably 150,000. I built that following doing exactly what I describe in 5 years. Excuses you will give: 1) Yes Ethan, but you were a VP with the Amazon name. True. But you do not need 150,000 people to get a job. 10% of my results will be more than plenty. 2) Yes Ethan, but that was 5 years. I need a job now! True again. But five years from now you will need another job, so get started. My networking class if you want more details: https://lnkd.in/gDCq8c5q My Getting to Executive Class (starts in 11 days): https://lnkd.in/gJ-HgWdk Free pro tip: New Years is an awesome reason to reach out and reconnect to people. It costs you almost nothing to wish someone Happy New Years (10 seconds?) and no one writes back and says "how dare you!" Safe, fast, effective. Readers - other good reconnection tips?

It is often asked how I stay on top of recent trends in my field. LinkedIn has been a fantastic tool for this. I’m not active on other social media platforms like X, Instagram, or Facebook. Even for LinkedIn, I've allocated specific "social media" slots on my calendar to optimize my attention along with slots to read articles/whitepapers/research studies etc. I'm very selective about my feed and the content I consume. I follow people with shared interests or those from whom I can learn through their thoughts, experiences, and views. Equally important is unfollowing those who don't align with my interests. With the right approach, LinkedIn can be transformed into a personal learning hub. This ensures your feed is filled with insights and updates that matter to you, making it a source of micro-learning and pure enjoyment. Additionally, with the rise of Generative AI, traditional resumes are starting to feel outdated. They often look similar due to AI-generated templates, making a strong LinkedIn presence even more crucial. Your profile can showcase real-time achievements, thought processes through published content, endorsements, and the unique value you bring—far beyond what a standard resume can capture. The use of LinkedIn has a significant impact on hiring and networking decisions. Recruiters and potential partners often check out your LinkedIn activity. Engaging in meaningful conversations, sharing valuable content, and demonstrating your expertise through posts and articles can open up career opportunities. It’s not just about creating content; having meaningful and positive discussions in the comments can enrich other perspectives. No matter where you are in your career, you should use LinkedIn not only for job searching, but also for learning and growing. #ExperienceFromTheField #WrittenByHuman #EditedByAI

That "Easy Apply" button on LinkedIn might be holding you back more than you realize. After two decades of placing C-suite talent, I've watched countless qualified executives disappear into the black hole of automated applications. Meanwhile, the executives who secure premium roles are rarely clicking that deceptively convenient button. Here's why direct networking outperforms digital applications every time: 🎯 When you apply through automated systems, your meticulously crafted resume competes with hundreds of others in an algorithm-driven screening process. 🎯 At the executive level, your unique value proposition gets diluted to keywords and bullet points. 🎯 Instead, focus on building meaningful connections with decision-makers. A warm introduction from a trusted contact carries exponentially more weight than even the most polished application. 🎯 Remember: by the time an executive position appears on LinkedIn, informal conversations about potential candidates have likely already begun. 🎯 The most valuable opportunities often exist in the hidden job market - positions filled through recommendations before they're ever publicly posted. By nurturing your professional network, you position yourself to be considered for roles that the "Easy Apply" crowd will never even see. Your executive experience deserves a more sophisticated approach than a convenience button designed for volume recruiting. Invest your time where it truly delivers results: in conversations, not applications. What's been your experience with executive job searching? Has networking opened doors that applications couldn't? #ExecutiveCareers #Careers #NetworkingStrategy #HiddenJobMarket

𝗜𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝘁? The hidden cost of relying on traditional job applications is more significant than you might think. You're investing precious time and energy only to face: • Endless rejections from automated systems filtering out your resume. • Getting lost in a sea of applicants without ever hearing back. • Missing out on job opportunities that never even make it to job boards. 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁: You're wasting valuable resources by putting all your hope in a broken process that isn't designed to work in your favor. There's a different way. It's not easy, but it's doable. Consider this: • 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 with people in your target industry gets you closer to real opportunities. • 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 bypasses the resume pile. • Personal referrals dramatically increase your chances of landing interviews. It's not about perfecting your resume for ATS systems. It's about creating direct connections with decision-makers. A successful job search is built through consistent networking and personalized outreach. I've taught 100+ job seekers how to skip the application pile and get interviews through referrals. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟴+ 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀. 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿—𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝟱 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. So, what's one step you're taking today to build your network instead of applying aimlessly? Share your strategies in the comments below!

Most career opportunities are never advertised. And yet, many professionals still spend hours sending CVs into the void, hoping for a response. Early in my career, I made the same mistake. I believed that the harder I worked on tailoring my applications, the better my chances. Don't get me wrong, it works to a degree but it isn't the whole package. What I didn’t realise was that I was competing with hundreds of others for the same few roles. The breakthrough came when I shifted my focus from job boards to people. I remember reaching out to someone in an organisation I admired, asking for a short conversation. That 15 minutes changed everything. Not only did I get insights into the role, but I built a relationship that eventually led to an opportunity I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. Here’s what I’ve learned about creating opportunities through connection: 👉🏿 Curate your environment – Surround yourself with professionals, mentors, and peers who align with your career goals. Follow their work, learn from their insights, and engage genuinely. 👉🏿 Converse with purpose Don’t lead with “I need a job.” Instead, ask thoughtful questions, share your perspective, and show curiosity. Conversations should feel like two-way learning. 👉🏿 Demonstrate value Be ready to share clear examples of the problems you’ve solved, the actions you’ve taken, and the results you’ve produced. Stories matter more than bullet points. 👉🏿 Expand your community After meaningful conversations, ask who else they recommend you speak with. One introduction often leads to another. 👉🏿 Prioritise relationships over transactions People remember how you made them feel, not just what you said. Build trust, not just contacts. The lesson is simple: your next opportunity is more likely to come through connection than competition. How are you building meaningful professional relationships this year? Comment below 👇🏿 Join my ‘Consultant Mindset’ newsletter here 👉🏿 ⁠https://lnkd.in/eHyiwsmj #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #NetworkingStrategies

Your LinkedIn Profile Won't Save You I hate to be the bearer of disappointing news, but that meticulously crafted LinkedIn profile you've been perfecting? It's not going to land you your dream role. Neither is that flawlessly formatted CV you've spent hours tweaking. I understand this might sting after the time and effort you've invested in polishing these documents. But this is the reality you need to face. These materials are basic hygiene factors - nothing more. Your LinkedIn and CV absolutely can't be terrible, but their impact stops there. After teaching 750+ corporate women how to land their unicorn jobs, I've learned career transformation happens through two essential elements: Element 1: Producing exceptional work (absolutely non-negotiable if you're a woman - not to generalize, but I've encountered plenty of men in senior roles where their presence genuinely puzzled me given the work they delivered) Element 2: Ensuring the right people know about that exceptional work Sounds straightforward? Yet this is precisely where talented women derail their career progression. They assume results will speak for themselves. They expect opportunities to find them organically. They believe brilliance will shine through written documents alone. Listen carefully: Your next opportunity will come through your ability to build genuine connections with actual humans. Through your RELATIONSHIPS. So yes, make your LinkedIn profile look professional. But then redirect that energy toward what actually moves the needle: 🎯 Research key decision-makers at organizations that interest you 🎯 Engage in authentic conversations (not formal interviews) 🎯 Discover alignment between your capabilities and their challenges 🎯 Articulate how you can address their needs 🎯 Collaborate on creating a position that fits perfectly 🎯 Negotiate terms that work for everyone This strategic relationship-building approach is what actually secures roles you're passionate about with compensation reflecting your true value. Stop perfecting documents. Start building connections. What's been your experience? Have relationships or documents led to better opportunities? Share below 👇

Networking: More than just exchanging business cards. 🤝🌏 Before moving abroad, I used to think “networking” was just a corporate buzzword — something you did at conferences in suits with a stack of business cards. But Australia humbled me. 😅 When you're thousands of miles from home, no family nearby, and Google can only take you so far — people become your most powerful resource. Need help moving houses? Ask around. Looking for job leads? Tap into your circle. Want to know which bank doesn’t charge foreign card fees? Someone in your network probably knows. From finding flatmates to landing interviews, every major milestone here has come from a conversation, not a search bar. The real art of networking isn't about handing out cards — it’s about showing up, listening, and being helpful without an agenda. And more often than not, those genuine connections lead to opportunities that no resume ever could. So if you’re abroad — or planning to be — don’t wait until you need a network to start building one. You don’t just grow your career that way. You grow your community too. ❤️ #NetworkingAbroad #LifeLessons #CareerGrowth #ProductManagerAbroad #FinanceCreator #SydneyStories #PersonalGrowth #BuildRealConnections

LinkedIn is NOT a job portal. But it’s the #1 place to find your next job. Confused? Let me explain. This is the mistake I see professionals make every single day: they treat LinkedIn like Indeed or Naukri. They scroll through postings. They apply, apply, apply. And then wonder why nothing moves. Here’s the truth → LinkedIn works, but only when you use it as a relationship portal, not just a job board. The real formula is this: ➡️ 80% networking ➡️ 20% job searching ➡️ 100% relationship building Why? Because jobs on LinkedIn aren’t just in the Jobs tab. They’re in the conversations you start, the insights you share, and the relationships you nurture. When you shift focus from applications to connections: - You discover opportunities before they’re advertised. - You get referrals directly from employees and leaders. - You build credibility that makes recruiters reach out to you. I’ve helped dozens of professionals land offers this way, without drowning in endless applications. The pattern is always the same: the more authentic connections they build, the more doors open. So here’s the mindset shift: ❌ Stop treating LinkedIn like a job portal. ✅ Start using it as a visibility and networking platform. Because opportunities don’t just come from clicking Apply. They come from being known, trusted, and remembered. 👉 If you’re ready to stop blending in with thousands of applicants and start getting noticed for the right opportunities, connect with me on DM if interested. I’ll show you how to turn LinkedIn into your personal career spotlight. #PersonalBranding #CareerSpotlight #LinkedInTips #Networking #CareerGrowth